Refrigerating machine



Sept. 201938. H. H. BlxLER Y REFRIGERATING MACHINE Filed Aug. 25, 1937 t Inventor: Harleg H. B`xle`f? g/ J Hi Attorney.

Patented Sept. 20, 1938 PATENT OFFICE REFRIGERATING MACHINE Harley H. Bixler, Schenectady, N. Y., assigner to General Electric Company, a corporation of New York Application-August `25, 1937. Serial No. 160,877

6 Claims.

My invention relates to refrigerating machines lof the compression type, and more particularly to a resilient mounting arrangement for the motor and compressor units thereof.

In many refrigerating machines, and particularly in those designed for household use, a cabinet is provided having a food storage compartment therein. The machine also includes a motor and compressor unit for compressing gaseous refrigerant which is liquefied in a suitable condenser and supplied to an expansion type cooling unit located in the food storage compartment of the cabinet. In order to provide a self-contained refrigerating machine, it is desirable that the motor and compressor unit be enclosed in a sealed casing and that this casing together with the condenser be mounted on the cabinet. The motor and compressor unit is resiliently mounted on a series of helical compression springs carried by the bottom wall of the enclosing casing in order to minimize the 'transmission of vibration from the motor and compressor unit to the cabinet.

It is an object of my invention to provide a refrigerating machine including a motor and compressor unit having an enclosing casing and a resilient mounting accommodating lateral and upward movements of the motor and compressor unit within the enclosing casing, and an improved stop arrangement for limiting the movements of the motor and compressor unit within fthe enclosing casing.

Another object of my invention is to provide a motor and compressor unit and an improved arrangement for resiliently mounting the motor and compressor unit in an enclosing casing which has a minimum number of parts and is readily assembled, and which is inexpensive to manufacture.

Further objects and advantages of my invention will become apparent as the following description proceeds, and the `features of novelty which characterize my invention will be pointed out with p articularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this speciiication.

For a better understanding of my invention, reference may beto the accompanying draw ing in which Fig, l is a side elevational View, partly in section, of a rerigeratihg machine including a motor and compressor unit having a resilient mounting and stop arrangement embodying my invention; Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary side elevational view, partly in section, of the resilient mounting and stop arrangement shown in Fig. l; Fig. 3 is a pian view of the stop ing section I2. The springs 20 are equally spaced arrangement shown in Fig. 2; and Fig. 4 is an exploded view, partly in section, of the lower portion of the resilient mounting arrangement shown in Fig. 2. Y

Referring to the drawing, in Fig. 1 I have shown a refrigerating machine of the household type provided with an hermetically sealed enclosing casing I formed of an upper casing section II and a lower casing section I2, the adjacent edges of these casing sections being welded -together at I3 over a reenforcing ring I4. The casing sections II and I2 are preferably made of steel and are mounted on a removable top wall I5 of a heat insulated refrigerated cabinet. A re irgerant compressor I6 and an electric driving motor I'I therefor are arranged within the enclosing casing I0. The motor I'I is provided with anupper end shield I8 and a lower end shield I9. The compressor I6 is secured Ato the upper end. shield I8 of the motor II by a series of bolts |811, thus forming a, compact motor and compressor unit which is resiliently mounted in the enclosing casing I0 on three upwardly extending helical compression springs 20 carried by the lower casapart and engage three similarly spaced apart supporting brackets 2l carried by the lower end shield I9 of the motor I1. Preferably, the supporting brackets 2| and the lower end shield I9 are formed integral and comprise a single metal casting.

As best shown in Fig. 2, the bottom wall of the lower casing section I2 is provided with three equally spaced apart and inwardly disposed portions 22 which provide substantially horizontal supporting surfaces for the springs 20. A cupshaped stud 23 is spot welded or otherwise rigidly secured to each of these inwardly disposed portions 22 of the lower casing section I2. Each of the studs 23 is embraced by the lower portion 20a of one or" the springs 20 to form a tight fric. tional connection therebetween. The upper portion 2mn of each of the springs 2li is tapered, having substantially the form of a frustum of a cone, and is received in one of the downwardly 45 opening and similarly tapered recesses .25 provided in each of 'the supporting brackets '2l carried by the lower end shield lil of the motor l?. The

-coils adjacent the upper portion of the spring 2c are disposed in contacting relation to increase 5g the rigidity of the upper portion of the spring. -also, the upper portion of the spring E@ is provided with .a smooth louter surface in order to increase the .area of contact between the upper portion of the Aspring :and the inner surface of CTI the recess 24. Preferably, the conical outer surface of the upper portion lof the spring 20 and the conical inner surface of the recess 124 are ground to provide a close machine fiit therebetween, which prevents the upper portion oi the spring 2li from moving and rattling within the recess 24 during normal operation of the machine.

The springs 20 accommodate lateral and ,up--

Ward vibratory movements of the motor and compressor unit within the enclosing casing i incident to normal operation thereof, and prevent the vibration of the motor and compressor'unit from being transmitted therefromto the removable top wall i of the heat insulated refrigerator cabinet upon `which the motor and'compressor unit is mounted. In order to limit lateral and upward movements of the motor and compressor unit within the enclosing casing l0, three equally spaced apart stops are carried by the enclosing casing |0. Each of these stops 25 comprises an inverted U-shaped body portion arn ranged to straddle the outer end of one of the supporting brackets 2| and in spaced relation thereto. As best shown in Fig. 3, the stop 25 is also provided with outwardly disposed arms.26

which vvare spot welded or otherwise rigidly se-` cured-to the upwardly directed side wall of the upper casing section During normal operation of the machine, the lateral and upward movements of the motor and compressor unit are the motor and compressor unit from the springs 20 due to the fact that the brackets 2| are not rigidly secured to the upper portions of the springs 20 and are free to move upwardly with respect thereto. However, displacement of the .motor and compressor'unit from the springs 20 is prevented by the stops 25. .It will be observed .that upward movement I.of the motor and compressor unit is limited by the engagements between the brackets 2| and the uppenportions of .the U-shaped stops 25', while lateral movements of the motor and compressor unit caused by ro- 1 tation of the unit about a vertical axis or shifting voi the unit sidewise within the enclosing casing is limitedby the engagements between the brackets 2| and the downwardly extending sides of the U-shaped stops 25'.A

In assembling the refrigerating machine the lower portions 20a of the springs. 20 are forced over the studs 23 to form frictional connections therebetween. In order to insure tight frictional connections between the springs 2li and the studs 23, the lower portion of each of the springs is tapered, having substantially the form of a frus-r tum of a cone, as best shown in Fig. 4; 'I he lowermost coil of the spring 20 slightly underhooks the base ofthestud 23 to positively lock the connection therebetween. The assembled motor and compressor unit is then brought into superimposed relationship with respect to the lower oasing section .|2 and placed upon the springs 20, the conical upper portions 20h of the springs 20 being received inthe conical recesses 24 provided in the brackets A2| carried by theA lower end shield I9 of the motor Il. The upper casing section is then brought'into superimposed relatinship with respect to the lower 'casing section and compressed and discharged into an exhaust muiiier 29 through a conduit.3ll. The compressed refrigerant is conducted from the exhaust muiiier 29` through a conduit 3| into an air cooled condenser 32 .of the natural draft type supported about the enclosing casing l0 upon an annulus of fins 33. The compressed refrigerant in passing through the condenser 32 is cooled and condensed into a liquid and then iiows through a conduit 34 into a suitable oat-operated flowcontrollingdevice 35. The liquid refrigerant is supplied from-the oat-operated flow-controlling device 35 through a liquid supply conduitY 35 to a cooling unit 31. The cooling nnit 3l comprises a sheet metal evaporator of the flooded type which is supported from an inner liner 38 of the A removable top Wall i5 in a food storage compartment 39 formed in the refrigerator cabinet cooled by the refrigerating machine. The liquid refrigerant contained in the evaporator 31 is vaporized by the absorption of heatfrom the food storage compartment 39 and the vaporized refrigerant is collected in a cylindrical header 4|] formed in the evaporator 3l, which is normally maintained about one-half full of liquid refrigerant. The vaporized refrigerant which accumulates above the level of the liquid refrigerant in the header 40 is returned to the interior of the enclosing casing I0 through a suction conduitdl which communicates with .the header lill` above the normal liquid level therein. It will be noted that the discharge end 4|a of the suction conduit 4| is located above the normal level of a body of lubricant contained in a lubricant reservoir 42 formed in the lower casing` section |2. 'I'his body of lubricant is recirculated to the moving parts of the motor and compressor unit during operation of the machine. The vaporized ref rigerant returned tothe enclosing casing. I0 is again drawn into thecompressor I6 through the intake muffler 21 and the conduit 28, and the cycle above described is continuously repeated until the food storage compartment 39 in which the evaporator 31 is located is cooled to the desired temperature.

While I have showna particular embodiment of my invention in connection with a refrigeratingv machine of the household type, I do not desire my invention to be limited to the particular construction shown and described and I intend in the appended claims to cover all modifications within the spirit and scope of my invention.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent in the United States is.:

1. A motor and compressor unit, a casing having upper and lower sections enclosing said unit,

unit being utilized to retain said supporting within said casing, and means including a stop` carried by said upper casing section and cooperating withv said supporting bracketl for limiting lateral and upward movements of said unit within said casing.

2. A motor-and compressor unit, a casing enclosing said unit, a supporting bracket carried by said unit and provided with a downwardly opening tapered recess therein, an upwardly extending helical compression spring carried by said casing and provided with a tapered upper portion, the tapered recess in said supporting bracket receiving and closely fitting the tapered upper, portion of said spring to form a connection therebetween, said connection allowing free upward movement of said supporting bracket with respect to said spring, the weight of said unit being utilized to retain said supporting bracket on said spring, said spring accommodating lateral and upward ,movements of said unit within said casing, and means including a stop carried by said casing and cooperating with said supporting bracket for limiting lateral and upward movements of said unit within said casing.

3. A motor and compressor unit, a casing having upper and lower sections enclosing said unit, a supporting bracket carried by said unit and provided with a downwardly opening ta- -pered recess therein, an upwardly extending helical compression spring carried by said lower casing section and provided with a tapered upper portion, the tapered recess in said supporting bracket receiving, and closely iitting the tapered upper portion of said spring to form a connection therebetween, said connection allowing free upward movement of said supporting bracket with respect to said'spring, the weight of said unit being utilized to retain said supporting bracket on said spring, said spring accommodating lateral and upward movements of said unit within said casing, and means including an inverted U- shaped stop carried by said upper casing section and cooperating with said supporting bracket for v limiting lateral and upward movements of said unit within said casing.

4. A motor and compressor unit, a'casing having a bottom wall and an upwardly directed side wall enclosing said unit, a supporting bracket carried by said unit, an upwardly extending helical compression spring arranged in said casing, a stud carried by the bottom wall of said casing,

the lower end of said spring embracing and tightly fitting said stud to form a frictional connection therebetween, a connection between said supporting bracket and the upper portion of said spring, said connection allowing free upward movement of said supporting bracket with respect to said spring, the weight of said unit being utilized to retain said supporting bracket on said spring, said spring accommodating lateral and upward movements ot said unit within said casing, and meansincluding a stop carried by the side wall of said casing and cooperating with said supporting bracket for limiting lateral and upward movements of said unit within said casing.

5. A refrigerating machine, or the like, including a motor provided with upper and lower end shields, a compressor carried by said upper end shield .and operated by said motor, a casing enclosing said motor and said compressor, a plurality of spaced apart supporting brackets carrled by said lower end shield, each of said supporting brackets being provided with a downwardly opening tapered recess therein, a plurality of spaced apart and upwardly extending helical compression springs carried by said casing, each of said springs being provided with a tapered upper portion, the tapered recesses in said supporting brackets receiving and closely fitting the tapered upper portions of said springs to form connections therebetween, said connections allowing free upward movement of said supporting brackets with respect to said springs, the weight of said motor and said compressor being utilized to retain said supporting brackets on said springs, said springs accommodating lateral and upward movements of said motor and said compressor within said casing, means including a' pluralityof spaced apart stops carried by said casing and cooperating with said supporting brackets for limiting lateral and upward movements of said motor and said compressor Within said casing. I

6. A refrigerating machine, or the like, including a motor provided with upper and lower end shields, a compressor carried by said upper end shield and operated by said motor, a casing having upper and lower sections enclosing said unit, a plurality of spaced apart supporting brackets carried by said lower end shield, each of said supporting brackets being provided with a downwardly opening tapered recess therein, a plurality of spaced apart and upwardly extending helical compression springs carried by said lowerv casing section, each oi' said springs being provided with a tapered upper portion, the tapered recesses in said supporting brackets receiving and closely fitting the tapered upper por- -apart inverted ,U-shaped stops carried by said upper casing section and cooperating with said supporting brackets for limiting lateral and up- A ward movements of said motor and saidl compressor within saidcasing.

H. BIXLER. 

